Brick-kiln.



L. W. FLOOD.

BRICK KILN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8. I9I4.

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L. W. FLOOD.

BRICK KILN.

APPLICATmN FxLED MAY18.1914.

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L. W. FLOOD.

BRICK KILN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANonRAPH co.,\vAsHINaToN, D.

LESLIE W. FLOOD, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRICK-Kinn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

^ application inea May 1s, 1914. serial No. 839,201.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE W. FLooD, a

citizen of the UnitedV States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brick-Kilns, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to brick kilns, more particularly to the type known as continuous kilns, and thek general object of the invention is to provide a construction such that the heat generated from a given amount of fuel may be utilized to a maximum, thereby giving maximum efliciency and reducing the amount of fuel required.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to so arrange the Walls,f1ues and dampers'as to form a series of compartments Vin-the'kiln and furnish means for controlling the heated gases in such manner as to cause them to aect a maximum number of bricks; "also to so arrange the elements in a kiln of this character that-the operation may Abe continuous. Incidentally, in my kiln the direction of flow ofthe heated gases is reversed each time the operation is ad- Vvanced one compartment.

Y In addition to these objects, it is my purpose to provide a kiln of cheap and simple construction and one that may, if desired,

utilize to an unusual degree green bricks in the construction of the kiln itself, thus lowering the cost ofmaintenance of the kiln and increasing its capacity for a given amount of area and a given amount of fuel.

I accomplish my objects by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side, end and plan views, respectively, of a kiln embodying my invention. In these views portions are broken away to better reveal the internal construction. Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views, showing a desirable manner of form* Aing the passages over the top of the dead walls and adjacent portions of the kiln and they form an arrangement of the dampers whereby these passages may be controlled. Fig. 4 shows the passage or opening closed, while in F ig. y5 it is shown to be open. Fig.

6 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the relationship of the passages at the lower portion of the kiln. f

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. i I

In the preferred form, illustrated inthe leach compartment of the kiln.

accompanying drawings, the kiln in its general outline is in the form of a hollow rec tangle having a stack or chimney 1, located in the center. While the arrangement of the underground tunnels may be somewhat varied, in the'preferred form the gases are ^1^ led to the stack through a series of tunnels in which 2, 2, represent longitudinal tunnels running beneath the compartments and connected by 'cross tunnels 3, 3 to headers or stack-tunnels '4, -4 extending longitudinally f and discharging into the base` ofthe stack.

4Dampers 5, 5 are so located as to 'control the flow from each individual cross tunnel into the headers 4. The iioor 6 of the kiln, at frequent intervals, has openings 7, 7,

.leading rdown from the body of the kiln into the longitudinal tunnels 2, of which latter there is preferably a plural number, the present design showing four. By preference the openings 7 occur at intervals frequent leading into each longitudinal tunnel from According `enough so that there shallY be `four of them to the present design,rtherefore, there are sixteen down assages from each compart-A ment of the Lkiln to the tunnels beneath. Said down ypassages are controlled by dampers which consist preferably of refractory slabs 8. These may be loosely laid over the mouth of the passage and controlled by hooks or pokers inserted through the arches 9 in the manner familiar to those skilled in Athemselves is had through doors or openings 16, while access `to thearches ishad through smaller doors or openings v17.

One of the most important characteristics of my kilnv is the internal arrangement iand ,the formation of the flues and passages; and these will now be described.

In setting the bricks in the kiln arches 20 are-formed in the well-known manner, these arches being arranged opposite to the openings 17 and above the passages 7, 7 which Vlead down through the floor tothe tunnels beneath. At proper intervals, for example fourteen feet more or less, I form substantially imperforate walls 21. These consti@ tute what maybe Atermed dead walls andA divide the kiln into a number of compart- A Y, of the slabs may be placed vertically and ments, the present design of' kiln lshowiing 8 compartments on each side. yThese dead walls may be formed of green bricks or burned bricks, although ordinarily green bricks are preferred for they will become burned during the process and hence result in increasing the output. 4Above the arches the bricks are set in the usual way with in.

terstices Abetween them so that the hot gases may flow through the pile. Vhen the bricks have been set to a sutlicient height, for example, to a point slightly beneath the `top of the outer walls 10, 12, as shown in Figs. f

1 andr2, a horizontal duct or passage 22 is formed; and while the manner of forming it may be varied somewhat, I prefer to place` brick 23 on end on the top of the pile, thus forming a sort of colonnade for supporting slabs 24 of refractory material which form a substantially airtight roof. AV single brick may readily support the adjacent corners of four different slabs, as indicated. The dead walls 21 are terminated practically iiushwith the top of the pile of bricks,

and'hence, in the absence of dampers, there is in the preferred constructiona Aduct or passage at or near the roof of the kiln extending completely from one end of the kiln to the other. In fact, the passages on the two sidesof the center court, are connected by a passage 25 best shown in Fig. 2, said passage 25 being formed preferably in the same manner as the passages 22, to-wit: by placing refractory slabs 24 upon bricks 23 Vplaced on end under the corners of the slab. SaidA bricks 23 rest upon a floor 26 of refractory supports. y

The horizontal flowV over the top of each dead wall is controlled by valves or dampers which may well be formed of slabs 28 of refractory material. yThel arrangement is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, whereit will be apparent that overvthe'top of each dead wall, in line therewith, the slabs 24 are spaced apart to forma passage 29, wide Venough to receive a slab 28 when placed on edge. When it is desired to close the passage over the top of a dead wall, said slabs 28 are inserted into the passage 29 as shown in Fig. 4. This cuts oif communication from one compartment to the next. Vhen it is desired to open up the passage to permit the gas to How from one compartment to the next, the slabs 28 are'withdrawn, ,andV the space 29 closed at the top by laying the slabs 28 over it inthe manner shown in Fig. 5. This makes a simple and efhcient Vdampering means; The-same means may be employed in the passage 25 shown in Fig.`2.' ABy employing, as I prefer, a number ofV slabs end to end inreach opening 29, it is possible to vary the available Varea through which the gas may flow; for if desired, some when the dead walls are in place, the kiln Y is divided into a numberof compartments which for convenience I 'have indicated in Fig. 1 as A, B, C, D, E, F,1G, I-I. A similar series will, of course, exist at the far side of the ykilnfrepresented bythe portion at the left of the stack in Fig. 2 and above the sta-ck in Fig. 3.

In operation, let it be assumed that the bricks in compartment A have recently been burned and are still lin process of cooling;V also that compartments B, C, D and E are filled, the succeeding compartments Ybeing filed'ror in the process of being filled. All of vthe dampers 5, except one, lare closed. Let it be assumed that the damper leading from the compartment E Vis open. A fire will now be placed in the arches atfthe bottom of compartment B and the dampers 28 will be so arranged that thepassages over the top of the dead walls between A and B and between B and C and betweenD and E are open, while the passages between compartments C and D and between comf partments E and F are closed, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The dampers 8 controlling thev passages 7 are closed in the bottom of compartments Av Vand'Bv and are and E. The resultv i that the gases flow up through compartment B over'the top of the dead wall and down into and through compartment C yand thence through the longitudinal Vtunnels 2 to the transverse tunnel 8 Vunder compartment E, thence into the'tun- 1 nel 4 and out through the stack. 'At the same time, the'hot gasesr arising from ther cooling bricks in compartment A will pass up through compartment 'A over into the top ofcompartment B and thence through the horizontal passage at the top Vof compartment B where they will mingle with the gases incompartment B and pass withjthem over into andV down throughicompartment As a result, the heat Awill be great enough in compartment B Vto burn the bricks therein and to heat-to quite arhigh temperature the bricks in compartment C. K

'heat of the-fuel is utilized efficiently. Compartment C, although it has no fire under it, i

receives heat vfrom both compartment A and compartment B and hence bricks in compartment 'C are well heated before the fire is placed under them.` Compartments D and E also receive a certain amount of heat* as they are open'torthe longitudinalltun- ,A

nels 2.` Y 'lVhen the bricks in compartment B are amara l completely burned, the process Will be advanced one step-that is, a lire Will be made in the arches under compartment C and the rrespective dampers Aof each succeeding compartment' Will beipositioned inI the manner in Which the dampers of the preceding 'compartments Were positioned during the preceding step or stage. The flow Will then be up through compartment C and down through compartment D'. With ay kiln con-- structed in the manner shown, this process may be repeated Without interruption and the kiln will therefore be continuous in its operation. V

Although the method of operation above described, in Whichfthe gases of combustion arising from the bottom 01"' the compartment being fired are led up through that compartment and down through the next suoceeding compartment and thence through tunnels'under the next tivo succeeding compartments before being led into the stack, there is nothing to prevent a kiln of my construction being operated in such manner that the gases of combustionlivill be permitted to finally escape from the compartment next succeeding the one in which burning is taking place; for example, When compartment B is being iired the gases might be shut oil from compartments l) and E and permitted to escape through the stackV from the bottom of compartment C and the transverse tunnel 3 beneath' said' compartment C.

As result of my construction it is pos-,

sible to operate the kiln continuously right around the'stack, the .end compartment in one row being suitably connected to the end compartment in the rovv on the other side of the stack.

1t will be observed that as a result of my construction .in which theA different compartments are separated by substantially imperforate dead Walls, with passages at the top of the Walls leading from one compartment to the other, and passages at the bottom of the compartment leading from one compartment to the other, it is possible to so operate the kiln that the compartments themselves become llues or ducts, communieating With each other for the continuous passage of the gases. Y

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A brick kiln having a stack, a plurality of compartments controllably connnunicating with each other at the top, a separate passage leading from the bottom of each compartment to the stack, a passage leading from the bottom of one compartment to the bottom oit' the adjoining compartment, and means for independently controlling each of said passages whereby the operator is af- Vorded a choice in connection with each compartment as to Whether the'gases shall flow from the bottom of that compartment to the bottom of the adjoining compartment or directly to the stack.

2. A brick kiln having dead Walls forming at least four compartments, each of said compartments communicating With the one adjacent thereto at the top, dampers at the top of each dead Wall for controlling thev passage of rgases from one compartment to the next, a stack, a passage for each of said compartments leading -rom the bottom thereof, each of" said passages being provided With a damper and each of said passages communicating With said stack, said compartments communicating With each other at the bottom, and means for controlling the flow from the bottom of one compartment to the bottom of the tWo compart` from the bottom of each compartment to said tunnel.

4, A brickY kiln having dead Walls Jforming at least four compartments, a duct at "the top of each dead Wall, means for independently controlling said ducts, a tunnel communicating with the bottom of each of said compartments, means for independently controlling the lovv between said tunnel and each of said compartments, a stack, and

means individual to each of said compart ments for independently controlling the flow of gases from said tunnel to said stack.

A brick kiln having dead Walls forming compartments, a cover over the kiln, chiots at the top and at the bottom of each compartment allording communication with the compartments on either side, dampers for independently controlling the flow through Said ducts, a stack, anda duct leading from each of said compartments to Lsaid stack. 1 Y

6. A brick kiln having dead Walls forming compartments, a cover over said kilna slight distance above the top of the dead Walls Wherebvpassages are formed between the cover and the top of the Walls` said cover having slots above rand extending in line with each Wall, and slabs of refractory material of a thickness slightly less than the Width of said slots and a length greater than the vvidth` of the slots, whereby the slabs mayT be inserted into the slots and rest upon the dead Walls to arrest the ioW of gas, kor

maybe laid horizontally to form covers for closing said slots, ducts at the bottom of said compartments forming passages from each compartment to the ones adjacent thereto, means for contro-lling lthe flow of gas through said ducts and means for leading the gas from said ducts to the atmosphere.

7. A brick kiln comprising two parallel Vinclosures each provided with longitudinal Walls and end Walls, dead Walls Within each inclosurel dividing the same into a plurality of compartmentma longitudinal tunnel beneath each inclosure communicating with the dii-ferent compartments,y a stack, stack tunnels connecting said longitudinal tunnels with said stack, a cover at the top of the kiln, a duct beneath said cover connecting each compartment With the compartment on either side thereof and connecting the end compartment of one inclosure With lthe adjacent end compartment ofthe other `a pluralityv of compartments, a longitudinal tunnel beneath eachY lnclosure commun1cat-- lng With said stack, a stack tunnel extending parallel to the longitudinal tunnels and con- Y s'tituting a header, a branch tunnel leading top of each compartment.

9. A continuous kiln havingl a floor, a plurality of dead Walls rising from said floor and dividing the kiln into compartments,

longitudinal tunnels beneath the floor, said tunnels having openings leading therefrom to the bottom of each compartment, means for independently controlling said openings and at the same time leaving said tunnels unobstructed, a transverse tunnel leading from the bottom of each' of said compartments to the atmosphere, av damper for eachl of said transverse tunnels, a cover over said kiln, ducts'beneath the cover leading from each compartment to the next, and means for independently controlling said ducts.A

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto sub- A scribed my name in the presence of tvvo Witnesses.

Y vLESLIE FLOOD.

Y Witnesses: A

' HOWARD M. COX, l KATHRYN S, READY.

lGopiesr'of this patent may be obtained for -five cents'each, by addressinglthe "Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

